Dr. Wyman Lai, Pediatric Cardiology
Dr. Wyman Lai is a leading, nationally-recognized pediatric cardiologist who treats the full spectrum of heart conditions at CHOC Children’s. He is an expert in the areas of fetal cardiology and non-invasive imaging for heart disease in fetuses and children. Dr. Lai’s research interests include the echocardiographic evaluation of complex congenital heart disease and the use of advanced imaging techniques for the assessment of cardiac function. He has published over 100 journal articles and chapters, and he has lectured extensively in the United States and internationally.
Dr. Lai serves as assistant division chief of cardiology at CHOC Children’s Specialists. He has served as the Chair of the Pediatric and Congenital Council Board of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and currently sits on the National Board of Echocardiography Board of Directors. Dr. Lai is a prolific author who has written many expert publications, books, peer-reviewed articles and has contributed to several high-level textbooks utilized throughout the country.
Dr. Lai graduated from the Brown University School of Medicine and also the Harvard School of Public Health. He completed training in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology at the UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles. Dr. Lai underwent advanced training in congenital cardiac MRI at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Locations
CHOC Children’s
1201 W La Veta Ave
Orange, CA 92868
CHOC Children’s Health Center at PIH Health
15725 E Whittier Blvd., #300
Whittier, CA 90603
Administrative Appointments
Medical Director, Echocardiography, CHOC Children’s
Co-Medical Director, Heart Institute, CHOC Children’s
Assistant Division Chief, Cardiology, CHOC Children’s Specialists
Academic Appointments
- Clinical Professor, Pediatrics
UC Irvine School of Medicine
Education
- Medical School
Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island - Pediatrics Residency
UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Los Angeles - Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship
UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles - Pediatric Cardiology MRI Fellowship
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston
Honors and Awards
- New York Super Doctors
- Best Doctors in America
Presentations
- Advancing excellence in pediatric echocardiography: pediatric echo laboratory directors
survey. American Society of Echocardiography Annual Scientific Sessions. Portland, OR.
June 23, 2014 - How to… Session Moderator. American Society of Echocardiography Annual Scientific
Sessions. Portland, OR. June 24, 2014 - Adult congenital heart disease: common clinical concerns. Moderator. American Society of
Echocardiography Annual Scientific Sessions. Boston, MA. June 14, 2015 - When is it time for re-intervention? Invited Faculty. American Society of
Echocardiography Annual Scientific Sessions. Boston, MA. June 14, 2015 - Ebstein’s anomaly. Invited Faculty. American Society of Echocardiography Annual
Scientific Sessions. Boston, MA. June 14, 2015 - Cardiac magnetic resonance in adult congenital heart disease. Invited Faculty. 23rd
International Parma Echo Meeting. Parma, Italy. June 18, 2015 - Double switch procedure. Invited Faculty. 23rd International Parma Echo Meeting. Parma,
Italy. June 19, 2015 - Right ventricular assessment by echocardiography: a practical approach. Invited Faculty.
The 2nd China International Forum of Pediatric Development. Beijing, China. October 10,
2015 - Thromboembolic complications in Fontan patients. Invited Faculty. CHAMPS-CHFU
Program. Shanghai, China. October 14, 2015. - Right ventricular assessment by echocardiography: what is practical versus research?
Invited Faculty. The 3rd Oriental Congress of Pediatrics. Shanghai, China. October 17,
2015
Professional Organizations
- American College of Cardiology
- American Society of Echocardiography
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Heart Association
- World Congress of Cardiology
- European Society of Cardiology
- National Board of Echocardiography
- New York Pediatric Echocardiography Society
Publications
Uzark K, Zak V, Shrader P, McCrindle BW, Radojewski E, Varni JW, Daniels K, Handisides J, Hill KD, Lambert LM, Margossian R, Pemberton VL, Lai WW, Atz AM. Pediatric Heart Network Investigators. Assessment of quality of life in young patients with single ventricle after the Fontan operation. J Pediatr. 2016; 170:166-172.e1.
Swaminathan N, Lai WW, Glickstein J, Shah A, Chelliah A, Krishnamurthy G, Freud L, Levasseur S. Maternal Hyperoxygenation in Fetuses with Transposition of the Great Arteries. American Society of Echocardiography 27th Annual Scientific Sessions. 2016; Abstract.
Solana AB, Paul EA, Tan EKT, Shah A, Lai WW, Hardy C, Chelliah A. Performance of Self-Calibrated Phase Contrast Correction in Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular MRI. International Society for Magnetic Resonance Medicine. 2016; Abstract.
Sachdeva R, Lai WW, Kellerman MS, McCracken CE, Lopez L, Stern KWD, Weiner RB, Welch E, Campbell RM, Douglas PS. Physician Engagement in Educational Intervention is Associated with Improved Appropriateness of Outpatient Echocardiograms: PAUSE Study Participant Survey. American Society of Echocardiography 27th Annual Scientific Sessions. 2016; Abstract.
Sachdeva R, Lai WW, Kellerman MS, McCracken CE, Lopez L, Stern KWD, Weiner RB, Welch E, Campbell RM, Douglas PS. Physicians Attitude Towards the First Pediatric Appropriateness Use Criteria Influence Their Impact on Appropriateness and Change in Practice. American Society of Echocardiography 27th Annual Scientific Sessions. 2016; Abstract.
Srivastava S, Lai WW, Parness IA. Tetralogy of Fallot. Echocardiography in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, 2nd edn: Wiley-Blackwell. 407-432.
Lai WW, Ko HH. The normal pediatric echocardiogram. Echocardiography in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, 2nd edn: Wiley-Blackwell. 2016; 44-60.
Anderson BR, Ciarleglio AJ, Cohen DJ, Lai WW, Neidell M, Hall M, Glied SA, Bacha EA. The Norwood operation: Relative effects of surgeon and institutional volumes on outcomes and resource utilization. Cardiol Young. 2016; 26:683-692.
Soriano BD, Fleishman CE, Van Hoever AM, Wright B, Printz B, Tacy TA, Allada V, Lai WW, Buddhe S, Srivastava S. Prevalence and Impact of Focused Ultrasound: Survey of the American Society of Echocardiography Committee on Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratory Productivity (C-PELP). American Society of Echocardiography 27th Annual Scientific Sessions. 2016; Abstract.
Paul EA, Solana AB, Shah A, Lai W, Chelliah A. Validating Self-Calibrated Phase Contrast Correction in Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Pediatric Academic Societies. 2016; Abstract.
- Appointments:
888-770-2462 - Office: 714-509-3939
- Specialty: Cardiology
- On Staff at: CHOC Children's Hospital
Dr. Lai's Publications
Videos

Understanding Syncope (Fainting) in Children
Dr. Wyman Lai, pediatric cardiologist, explains the causes, symptoms and treatments for syncope, also known as fainting.

When a Child Needs an Echocardiogram
Dr. Wyman Lai, pediatric cardiologist, discusses why a child might need an echocardiogram of the heart, what it is and how it is done.